Results 3,921-3,940 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Over the years 2011 to 2014, my Department did not incur expenditure on external public relations and communications services. Although it has been our practice not to engage the services of external public relations firms, we have from time to time commissioned consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background to provide other professional services such as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: A passport application for this child was received by the Department on 29 May, 2012. However, it could not be finalised for passport issue under the Passports Act, 2008 on the grounds that his entitlement to Irish citizenship had not been demonstrated. The Department wrote to the applicant’s mother on three occasions about the application. The key points of this correspondence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Department commissions professional external service providers and consultants where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department. These services can be provided by individual contractors, partnerships or by organisations. In 2014 the Department engaged the following consultancy firms and paid fees as detailed. Consultancy Firms Engaged in 2014 Groundworks...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There have been no further developments in our interactions on this case since 11 December 2014. The case currently remains under consideration in the United Arab Emirates’ legal system. My Department is therefore restricted in what it can appropriately do and it may be more helpful for the family to seek expert advice from their lawyers. Officials of my department both in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 737 together. The persecutions of religious minorities, including Christians, while not appearing as a stand-alone item for discussion at recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meetings, is regularly reviewed as a critical dimension of developments on the ground in many regional crises. In recent months, discussion in this area has been dominated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Following eleven weeks of discussion, political talks in Stormont House, Belfast concluded successfully on 23 December. The Stormont House Agreement covers a broad range of political, social and economic issues and has the potential to advance significantly its twin aims of reconciliation and economic renewal. It sets out a plan for financial and budgetary reform. It proposes a way forward...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 to 741, inclusive, together. Key outstanding matters from the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreement were discussed in the recent Stormont House talks. In relation to the particular outstanding matters raised by the Deputy, the following is the position. During the course of the talks, the Government advanced the view that a Bill of Rights could set out...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who are the victims. Ireland is deeply concerned by the persecution of Christians. Ireland attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Ireland has a strong track record in addressing gender equality through its foreign policy and development cooperation programme, and remains fully committed to combating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2013-2015, Ireland has prioritised efforts to combat all forms of discrimination and promote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: There are currently no EU Directives remaining to be implemented within my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together. No bills have been initiated by my Department since September 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 748 to 750, inclusive, together. No secondments have taken place between my Department and any external private firm during the period in question. To date, the usual secondment arrangements in my Department have involved staff coming from or going to other Departments and State Agencies such as the IDA. However, as I announced at this week’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (15 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The Passports Act 2008 provides that only Irish citizens may obtain Irish passports. Each applicant must therefore provide documentary evidence that demonstrates his/her entitlement to Irish citizenship and which verifies his/her identify. In general, first time applicants should provide the following: - a completed and suitably witnessed application form and photographs; - an original...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Employment Rights (15 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. I have raised my concerns in relation to this matter with the diplomat concerned and his authorities and I hope that it will be possible to achieve a satisfactory resolution in these cases. While I am not in a position to comment further on the matter in question, I would like to reiterate my strong commitment to the protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I am appalled by ongoing reports of outrageous acts of violence perpetrated in Nigeria by the terrorist group Boko Haram. These include the very recent killing of a large number of civilians, estimated by Amnesty International to be as high as 2,000, in an attack by militants in the north-eastern state of Borno. I am utterly appalled by reports of the use of innocent young children to carry...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: The conflict in Ukraine is not formally on the agenda of the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 January. However, Ministers will have a comprehensive discussion on the EU’s relationship with Russia and it is likely that the situation in eastern Ukraine will be raised in the context of this debate. The crisis in Ukraine and its impact on relations with Russia remains...

Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Martin would like to delete a lot of things, but he will not be able to.

Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Deputy Martin will continue to relive them over there.

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: I welcome the opportunity to brief the House on the outcome of the political talks in Northern Ireland which concluded on 23 December last with the Stormont House Agreement. As Deputies will be aware, the British and Irish Governments convened the talks last October. It was the joint assessment of the two governments at that time that the political impasse in the North was such that the...

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Charles Flanagan: Does the Deputy want me to correct him if he is wrong or is he asking the Chair to do so? I can correct him but I would be out of order if I did so.